Pentair Intellichlor ic40

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C

concort

Member
Jul 9, 2023
11
Lancaster, PA
So my chlorinator is not producing chlorine. Its been sort of on and off now since the start of this summer season here in the North East (PA). It was producing chlorine then it wasnt then it was.... Heres the current situation:

Pool and chlorinator are 9 years old. I cleaned the intellichlor at the beginning of this season with acid/water. There was no scaling in it btw but cleaned it anyway due to low chlorine readings and red lights flashing on the unit. Later is started to work again but its always intermittently. Fast forward two months now the Good and Low lights lights are flash red on and off AND the Flow red light as been on. So i finally replaced the flow sensor. That now made everything change back to green. All lights green and it SEEMS all systems go. My pool is now registering around 4000 for salt level... so its a little more than i need. Pool is about 19000 gallons. Water temps are around low 80s. So no issue with temp. The unit is STILL not producing chlorine. When i pour shock/chlorine into the pool then test after a bit then i register chlorine showing... so this unit is def not producing atm. Any ideas??
 
ajw22 said:
Can your pool pass a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test? If not, you have algae consuming the chlorine produced and you need to follow the SLAM Process

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Click to expand...
I shocked it last evening and this morning its still registering chlorine in the water but it was way stronger last night obviosuly... the chlorine level went down over night but then thats normal. I do however have this slight dark algae spots that appear on the bottom of the pool floor here and there lately... ive never ever seen this before in the 9 years that ive had this pool until this year? Why? What the heck is that? Its not alot and are you saying that these small amounts of algae can be keeping the chlorinator from producing chlorine? I mean i would think SOME chlorine would register in the water... it keeps coming up as almost non existent. So so strange.
 
concort said:
Its not alot and are you saying that these small amounts of algae can be keeping the chlorinator from producing chlorine?
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Yes, algae can overwhelm the small amount of chlorine a SWG produces every minute.

You need to do the SLAM Process

Shocking a pool will not get it algae free.

 
ajw22 said:
Yes, algae can overwhelm the small amount of chlorine a SWG produces every minute.

You need to do the SLAM Process

Shocking a pool will not get it algae free.

Click to expand...
Thanks this is all very interesting and your whiteboard videos are helpful! I will try the slam however it seems slamming is really just shocking (on a longer basis time period) at a high level of liquid chlorine vs just dumping in a bag of granulars. Either way i'll do it. Still... odd that im even IN this position this year. 9 years and this has literally never happened. I would just "boost" my pool from time to time when chlorine levels get low and ive never ever had algae in the thing. Idk. We'll try the slam and see if that bring this chlorinator back online to being able to output and produce i guess.
 
Ok did the slam.
on my chlorinator what does it mean when the CELL light is not lit at all? And as you can see the other lights are all green but its producing 0 chlorine. Pool is clear as a bell right now (cuz ive been adding liquid chlorine) and theres no algae. Thoughts?
 

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C,

The cell light only comes on when the cell is making chlorine...

At 50%, the cell light should come on for about 2.5 minutes, and then it will be off for about 2.5 minutes.

I am not sure that cell is 9 years old?? Most cells last 5 to 7 years.

Generally when the cell goes bad, the cell light will start to flash on and off, even when the cell is clean. Or the cell will pop the fuse or breaker.

In most cases, if the cell light comes on, then the cell is making chlorine.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
C,

The cell light only comes on when the cell is making chlorine...

At 50%, the cell light should come on for about 2.5 minutes, and then it will be off for about 2.5 minutes.

I am not sure that cell is 9 years old?? Most cells last 5 to 7 years.

Generally when the cell goes bad, the cell light will start to flash on and off, even when the cell is clean. Or the cell will pop the fuse or breaker.

In most cases, if the cell light comes on, then the cell is making chlorine.

Thanks,

Jim R.
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I put the pool in 9 years ago and thats when this was installed. It hasnt been replaced yet. I did however replace the sensor because before that the lights were flashing red but now all green. But im just curious why all the lights are green but its still not producing any chlorine. Makes no sense.
 
C,

At 50% does the cell light turn on and off every 2.5 minutes??

I have yet to see a cell where the cell light worked correctly, and it was not making chlorine.. I guess it could 'think' it is making chlorine when it is not..

But.. If we assume the cell is not making any chlorine, and it is 9 years old, then I think the fix is obvious.. :mrgreen:

I see a new cell in your future..

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
C,

At 50% does the cell light turn on and off every 2.5 minutes??

I have yet to see a cell where the cell light worked correctly, and it was not making chlorine.. I guess it could 'think' it is making chlorine when it is not..

But.. If we assume the cell is not making any chlorine, and it is 9 years old, then I think the fix is obvious.. :mrgreen:

I see a new cell in your future..

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Just odd that the Cell light wouldnt show as Red in this case then. I guess its just an uncertainty to me with all the lights red. Yeah I guess its time for a new one.
 

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